Someone in Michigan tried to recycle a live Civil War cannonball. A bomb squad arrived.

Miriam Marini / Detroit Free Press

Thursday

May 21, 2020 at 2:43 PM

DETROIT — If you need more news that sounds too weird to be true, you're in luck: Someone in Michigan, tried to recycle a Civil War cannonball.

Grand Rapids police officers were dispatched to the Kent County recycling center at 12:20 p.m. Tuesday when workers came across what was described as a 6-inch, 6-pound shot-put ball on the processing line, according to the police report.

Officers on site found the cannonball was live and likely a percussion-cap style detonator and subsequently evacuated the center, according to the report.

"Thanks to all the public safety officers who helped and to the brave men and women at the ReimagineTrash Kent County Michigan Department Public Works Recycling & Education Center," Kent County Commissioner Phil Skaggs said in a Facebook post Tuesday evening. "And a reminder, everyone, please follow the instructions on how to recycle. Just to be clear: DO NOT RECYCLE CANNONBALLS FROM ANY WAR!"

Investigators were unable to determine where in the county the object came from. Officers from the Michigan State Police bomb squad were able to safely remove it from the premises, according to Skaggs' post.